WOMEN are having to wait more than six weeks for cervical smear test results because of a shortage of key laboratory staff.

Only a few patients in Wigan and Leigh have been given their full cancer smear test results within the 14-day standard set by the NHS cervical screening programme.

Most face an agonising wait stretching to more than six weeks because of a shortage of lab analysts.

Pre-cancerous and cancerous cells are detected by a procedure known as a colposcopy.

A cells biopsy is taken for lab analysis - but it is in this key area that a shortage of staff is creating delays.

Some women have complained that they have been waiting weeks for their test results.

Clinical support spokesman, Dr Steve Aspinall, said the workload had increased and there was a shortage of the specialist staff.

Hospital bosses had the money to fund a new lab post. But the situation could not be remedied until another specialist was recruited, with competing demands for these roles from other health authorities.